Log jack



Sept. 20, '1 955 O. G. PURDY LOG JACK Filed Sept. 17, 19.52

INVENTOR.

LOG JACK Oren Purdy, Alma, Mich., assignor, mesne assignments, to American Logging Tool Corporation (organized November 4, 1954), Evart, Mich., a corporation of 'Michigan j I I A Application September 17 1952, Serial No. 310,059

2 Claims. Cl. 254-131 f This invention relatesto logging tools a nd more particularly to a log jack or lifting implementfor manna ally raising and holding logs during. lumbering and sawing operations, which is particularly useful in handling logs being sawed into. sections of predeterm ined. length.

Oneof the prime objects of the invention is to provide a log jackingimplement for engaging logs or poles and lifting them to raised position above the groundforsawing with a minimum of effort and rnanipnlation to pre vent the saws binding during the sawing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jack implement by means of which the log can be raised and supported above the ground, so that the saw does not run in the dirt or otherdebris when the cutis' completed or nearing completion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a log jack which includes a fixed or stationary base or fulcrum which can be anchored on the ground adjacent a log so that it cannot slip, slide out from under the log, or otherwise become displaced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a log jack which is pivotally supported on a fixed base in a manner to enable it to be quickly manipulated into position to engage a log or pole and easily swungto the raised support position. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a log jack including a base which can be quickly anchored on the ground, said base being provided with means to further prevent it from slipping on ice, hard surfaces, or on supporting blocks when the ground is overly soft and/or wet.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a log jack which is strong and durable in construction, which can be readily and economically manufactured, and from which the base can be easily and quickly removed to provide a standard cant hook.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fullly described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the log jack in log-engaging position, the broken lines indicating an elevated position of the log and log jack after it has been swung up oh" the ground.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the log swung to raised position above the ground and supported in position for sawing or a similar operation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective plan view of the base of the device.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, part sectional view of the socket member illustrating the stop.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of myinvention, the numeral 10 indicates a tapered metal socket member for receiving the tapered endof a handle I support block orblocks (not shown);

is swung down to position as shown in Fig. 2 of the draw,-'-

ing, the centerline of the log being past theverticah center line of the post 19 so that it is firmly supported in H,- Spaced-apart cars 11 are formed on theupper, side ofthe socket member 10, and a cant hook 12, including an inwardlyp rojecting, sharpened tip section 13 is pivot I ally mounted therebetween by means of a bolt 14 in the usual manner. I A claw-shaped we 15 is driven into. the end of the handle H, the claw section 16 projectingupis placed in position for use.

wardly as shown for engaging the log L when the jack A base or ground-engaging support plate 17 is provided for the device and includes downwardly'projecting, sharps ened corner prongs 18, these prongs piercing the ground, and serving to anchor the jack so that it will not slip' when used on ice, or when employed with a wooden A centrally disposed, vertical post1 9 is. welded or otherwise secured to the upper face of the plate 17, the.

pose to be presently described.

free end of the post being flatted as at2i), and for a pur Ears 21 areformed integral with and depend underside of the socket memberltl at a point forwardof; the ears 11, and the fiatted end 20 of the post 19. is pivot-- ally connected thereto by means ,of a bolt 22. The space between theears 21 is bridgedat the rear end as at 23 to form a stop S which engages the post 1 9 when thezhandle position and the workman need not hold thehandle. I

of the drawing. The forward edgeofthe plate 17 serves as'the first fulcrumin the raising operationjandlwhen. theplate 17 has been swung down flat on" the ground,'the' forward end of the handle which carries the log is then swung further upwardly about the bolt 22 as a pivot or fulcrum.

In operation, the device is placed adjacent the log to be elevated, with the handle in raised position, and the base plate 17 tilted to bring the claw 16 and tip 13 into gripping relation with the log. The handle H is then swung down as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1 so that the tip 13 of the cant hook 12 bites into the log, and likewise, the sharpened claw 16 pierces the opposite side of the log. Once the log has been engaged, very little force need be applied to the free end of the handle H to swing it first about the forward edge of the plate 17 and thence about the bolt 22 to the raised log-supporting position illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The prongs 18 on the forward edge of the plate 1'7 immediately engage the ground when the device is first placed adjacent the log and prevent the base from slipping.

It will be obvious that as the log L is supported slightly past the vertical center line of the post 19 so that the free end of the handle bears on the ground, the workman can then release the handle as the weight of the log will then be supported by the free end of the handle engaging the ground and the post 19 of the base 17. The base with the sharp prongs provides a non-slip supporting base or bearing which proves very valuable in the fall and winter seasons on wet and icy ground when logs and cant hooks slip and roll with possibility of injury to workmen as they are positioned for sawing or other processing.

The invention is not restricted to the exact design I Patented Sept, 20, 1955;

herein shown and described, as variations may be made to adapt the implement to various uses.

-- What I claim is: v

y 1. A log jack comprising an elongated handle adapted to be pre'slentd toa'logat, a vertically inclined angle, a hbolt mounted on the upper side of the'handle a d'stance from the front end thereof to'engage the i n the handle is presented to the log, an up turned the frbntl ehd of thehan dle, ear means depending the underside Qf the handle a spaced distance fromthefr 't end thereof, a support member comprising a fiiaft'b" we with a""linearfr,ont edg'e, and an upwardly proieting'- rigidoii 's'aid baseQtl ie upper end of the post heir-1g pivotally connected to the s'aidea'r means and the res gn; bf the post from the plane or the base: to'thepoint Q tal con "c tion b ein g substantially greater than the lien I ofthe base from the post to the front end of the bis, *'grouiid-eritering prongs depending from the front edgeoftli'e base to permit the latter to effectively serve as a fulcrum when the handle is presented to the ground if avert-an inclined angle and the base is tilted forwiifdly 's' "at the'fro'nt' edge thereof only contacts the ran-11a, Inca-11s associated with said ear means in position to be engaged by: the upper end hf said post to limit tilting qr niet'agererwarmy into'w'ard the front end of the handle beyond a predetermined degree when the handle isfpr'e'sent'ed to the log, the front endbf the handle tern'iiriating" substantially short of the horizontal plane of the f dge of the plate when the latter is ina position A p m tilt, the ear meanson the underside of the innate being spaced forwardly'of the point of connection thereof during'elevation of the log, first by fulcruming on thefronfedge of, the base and thence on the, pivotal cjon efetion of the post to the ear means, and the "center 6f gravityo the log is rearward of the point of'pivotal ci'nhec'tiomto'thepost when it hasbeen' elevated to position.

2.15 log jaclt comprising an elongated handle, a cant pivotally mounted on the one side of the handle, ti spaced distance i from the front end thereof to engage og when the handle 'ispres'ented thereto at a vereg id 'cant hook "so that the fulcrum point is forward cally inclined angle, the cant hook being mounted on the upper side of thehandle, an upturned hook on the front end of the handle, a support member comprising a rectangular shaped fiat base with an upwardly projecting post rigid on said base, spaced apart ears depending from the underside of the handle, the post having a flatted head portion pivotally connected between the ears, the length of the post from the plane of the base to the point of pivotal connection to the ears being substantially reet r 'r i been r the; ba s ro t 'p' t w fi bm 'of i .j ef q hat me d e may ead y pivoted about the pivotahconnection to the post only prior to fulcruming on the front edge of the base when the handleis swung downto bite the said hooks into'the log, a bridge spanning the rear edges of said ears and limiting the swin'g ofsaid post by blocking the path of the head of said post to limit tilting of the plate forwardly in toward the front end of the handle beyond a predetermined degree when thehandle is'p'resented to the logjthe front end of the handle terminating substantiallyshort of the hoi'iibiitahplaiie tifthe'frofit edge 'of the plate wheri the latten is in its positlon'of'maximunr tilt, the earmans or ithe underside of'the handlebeing spaced forwardly of the point of connection of said cant hook? so that the fulcrum point is forward thereof during elevation of the lagers: byrarcrumingemhe front "edge of the inclined base arid thence on'the pivoted connection of thepost to the ear'sjan'd tlieeen'ter of gravity of the log is rearward o f the'point of pivotal, connection of the postwhen'ithas been elevated tdiposition."

References Cited in the file of this patent UN TED TE AT N 827,406 Austin 'Ju1 31, 19,016. 1,176,738 Dannenberg Mar. 28, 19.16 1,296,738v Bekke Mar. 11, 1919 1,635,291 Smith et al. July 12, 1927; 2,497,771 Hirst Feb. 14, 1950 2,539,231 Davis Jan. 23., 1951 noanron PATENTS 193,550 Switzerland Jan. 17, 1332; 

